Nick Foles in, Michael Vick out for Eagles?

Even after a clean game against the Falcons, Michael Vick is averaging nearly two turnovers per game this season. (David Maialetti/MCT/ABACAUSA.COM)

Is the Nick Foles era about to begin? The answer appears to be "yes", according to at least one report out of Philadelphia.

Sunday marked another setback for Michael Vick and the Eagles -- the Vick-led offense went through the motions in a critical home loss to Atlanta. Now, despite sitting in second place in the NFC East, the Eagles are 3-4 and have lost three straight, putting them in danger of falling totally out of the playoff race.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King argued in his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column that the Eagles ought to give Vick one more week, but SI's Don Banks pointed out how resigned Vick seemed to a benching following Sunday's loss.

Vick has continued to deal with turnover problems this season, though he's taken care of the ball well in his last two outings. But that has not led to positive results.

Andy Reid fired his defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, following a Week 6 loss to the Lions, and it's clear that Reid's desperation level is climbing -- shy of making the playoffs, Reid probably will find himself looking for a new job next season.

But would a move to an untested Foles help?

Foles excited the Eagles fan base this preseason with a series of impressive performances; he completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 553 yards with a 110.1 QB rating in the exhibition season.

He has never thrown a regular season NFL pass, though, and that's only the start of the challenges. The bigger one is this: If and when Reid opts to go to Foles, there's no turning back. It is impossible to say for sure, one way or the other, how Foles would play, but the Eagles would not be better off jumping back and forth between quarterbacks.

Turning things over midseason to a rookie QB is a gutsy way to live, especially when you consider that Philadelphia's schedule is built for a playoff run -- only one team left on that schedule, the Giants, currently has a record of .500 or better.

Next up for the Eagles is a trip to New Orleans, where a desperate Saints team awaits. On the one hand, facing off with Drew Brees and co., could be a very tough debut for Foles. On the other hand, the Saints possess arguably the worst defense in the NFL, so either Eagles quarterback might have success.

That game marks the midway point of the season for Philadelphia. If a drastic move like Foles-for-Vick at QB is to be made, it must be made soon. It's just hard to say if such a move would help.